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Australian Systematic Botany Australian Systematic Botany Society
Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
RESEARCH ARTICLE

A new Australian genus, Androcalva, separated from Commersonia (Malvaceae s.l. or Byttneriaceae)

C. F. Wilkins A C D and B. A. Whitlock B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

B Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA.

C Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: carolyn.wilkins@dec.wa.gov.au

Australian Systematic Botany 24(5) 284-349 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB10032
Submitted: 19 July 2011  Accepted: 10 August 2011   Published: 18 November 2011

Abstract

A new genus, Androcalva C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, is here described and includes 22 species previously described as Commersonia, four species formerly described as Rulingia and seven new species, including A. aphrix C.F.Wilkins, A. perlaria C.F.Wilkins, A. bivillosa C.F.Wilkins, A. adenothalia C.F.Wilkins, A. fragifolia C.F.Wilkins, A. incilis C.F.Wilkins and A. lachna C.F.Wilkins. Rulingia pauciflora Turcz. is here placed in synonymy with C. gaudichaudii J.Gay as A. gaudichaudii. Recognition of Androcalva is supported by the results of a previous molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrating that neither Rulingia nor Commersonia as previously circumscribed is monophyletic. Species of Androcalva share characters of extrorse anther dehiscence and glabrous central staminodes. In contrast, species in the redefined Commersonia have anthers with sublatrorse dehiscence and hairy central staminodes. Taxonomic descriptions, a key, distribution maps, conservation status and illustrations are presented.


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